Criminal Contempt (M) is defined as which of the following?

Criminal Contempt (M) is defined as which of the following?

• A. Intentional disobedience of lawful court mandate.
• B. Violates order of protection and harassing conduct.
• C. Tampering with witnesses during a trial.
• D. Perjury in a court proceeding.

Answer: (A)

Criminal Contempt in the second degree focuses on willful disobedience of a lawful court mandate or order. If a judge issues a directive and a person knowingly refuses to follow it, that act fits this offense. The essence is the court’s authority and the deliberate noncompliance, not lying under oath or interfering with witnesses. While violating an order of protection can be related to contempt, the defining feature here is the intentional disobedience to a court’s directive. The other actions described—tampering with a witness or perjury—are separate crimes with different elements.

Criminal Contempt in the second degree focuses on willful disobedience of a lawful court mandate or order. If a judge issues a directive and a person knowingly refuses to follow it, that act fits this offense. The essence is the court’s authority and the deliberate noncompliance, not lying under oath or interfering with witnesses. While violating an order of protection can be related to contempt, the defining feature here is the intentional disobedience to a court’s directive. The other actions described—tampering with a witness or perjury—are separate crimes with different elements.